Lifting Ban on Small-Scale Mining Will Bring Back Galamsey- Okyenhene

The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has expressed worry over government’s intention to lift the ban placed on small-scale mining in the country.

According to him, removing the ban was an attempt to reintroduce galamsey―a menace which the country has come a long way in fighting.

In a key note address delivered at the 22nd Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) awards held in Accra, on Wednesday, the Okyenhene who was the Special Guest of honour, stressed that there was no clear distinction between small-scale mining and galamsey and therefore asked for a review on the matter.

“In a small-scale mining, I do not know for a fact that the calculations are right, but I worry a little bit because, that’s how galamsey started. It was small-scale mining that metamorphosed into galamsey,” he said.

The Okyenhene therefore called on government to remain committed to fighting the menace if they would still continue with their decision.

He said: “If the ministry and government want to do that, please make sure the regulatory agencies and the law firms will know so that they can check these guys otherwise the work that the media has done and everybody has done will go back and we are going to say oops again.”

Speaking on the theme, “Safe Mining and Environmental Protection: The Role of the Media”, Osagyefuo Ofori Panin called on the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining and Operation Vanguard to intensify their activities to help end illegal mining in the country.

He said the fight against illegal mining would not have yielded results if government had not had the attention and backing of the media.

The Okyenhene said in the quest to keep fighting the menace, the media and the vanguards may experience some opposition but asked that they remain resilient.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]